Dare Babalola
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has claimed he sent $20,000 to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to attend his birthday celebration.
Fayose made the stunning revelation in a recent interview with AF24News, alleging that Obasanjo received the money through Foluso Adeagbo after meeting at the former president’s residence
Accusing Obasanjo of hypocrisy and disrespect, Fayose said the former president took money from him only to later disparage him publicly.
According to Fayose, he had to change $20,000 twice, $10,000 each, and gave the money to Foluso, who then handed it over to Obasanjo.
“How can you take somebody’s money and come and be disparaging that person?” Fayose wondered.
“I never called to go and apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one that removed me from office. He was the one that declared a state of emergency in Ekiti,” Fayose stated.
However, Fayose revealed that Obasanjo has since returned the $20,000, which he has converted to Naira. “Obasanjo has returned my $20,000 and I thank him for returning it, it’s in my hand now and I’ve changed it to Naira,” he said.
Fayose maintained that he reached out to Obasanjo in good faith, after the former president had told him he could call him anytime.
“I called him, and he said, ‘You don’t need Osita to call me, anytime, you can call me.’ How else could a man reach out? I did it in good faith,” Fayose explained.
The recent war of words between Fayose and Obasanjo have its roots in the speech of the former president during the former Ekiti governor’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos.
Obasanjo publicly reflected on his long-running feud with Fayose, describing him as “not the best” of his political protégés but acknowledging his political accomplishments.
The two men have had a turbulent relationship dating back nearly two decades, including the 2006 impeachment saga, the declaration of emergency rule in Ekiti, and repeated public spats in the years that followed.
In response to the former president’s, Fayose, in a ‘thank you’ letter said, “Your coming to my birthday party, I appreciate except for your very irresponsible comments at your age”.
He added, “You went so low, but I am not surprised because someone once said you are supposed to be kept away in the zoo. Sincerely, that’s where you belong.”
